“It’s a bit short Am.”

I stopped twirling and I rolled my eyes at Tyler, clipping the back of my earring closed.

“Don’t like it Ty?” I arched an eyebrow?

“Are you guys going tonight?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Cole is,” he smirked. “I wonder why.”

“He’s pathetic,” I muttered darkly, and pulled the hem of the black dress down slightly. Yeah, it was tight and it showed off my assets, but what was the point in going out looking a rag doll? Everyone went out to impress, whether they liked to admit it or not. “Bloody Jax.” I added.

“Yeah, he has a way of being a jerk when he wants to,” Tyler said, seated on the edge of my bed.

“I didn’t actually expect him to tell you guys about the party,” I said as I grabbed my short leather jacket. “Come on, it’s a high school party. Talk about lame.”

“Will you be drinking?” he crossed his arms, and I nodded my head. “Then one of us has to be there,” he added.

“Oh, get off it. You guys were never around when I used to drink,” I pointed out.

Tyler remained silent, and I knew that him leaving me behind was a touchy subject but it was the history; facts. And you can’t avoid facts.

“Hey Tyler?”

“Hmm?” He was staring at the carpet, clearly in thought.

“Do you think I am selfish?” I asked before putting my hands on my hips. “Like cold hearted bitch selfish?

“I… ummm what?” Tyler began to scratch the back of his arm; he was nervous, and that was his tell. Groaning, I sat down next to him.

“I am, aren’t I?”

“Just a little,” Tyler’s voice was low. “But not in like a massive way. A little selfish, not cold hearted.” Tyler rubbed my back.

 “Well I am going to do something unselfish tonight,” I said, standing up, my confidence better. “I am sure there will be an opportunity for me to be kind tonight.”

“Well you are going to drink with toddlers.”

“I call them infants,” I said as I grinned at him. My brother and I were on the same wavelength; that’s why we were related. I pulled my leather jacket on, and Tyler reached for his back pocket, getting the car keys out.

So, tonight I would do an act of kindness. I just hoped I did it before I got wasted.

 

***

“You look hot!” Andy screamed into my ear over the music. “Like smoking hot.”

I nodded my head as he kept grinding against me. I was pulled tight to his chest. The music was pumping through the air at a deafening level, and vibrating through the floor; and even through our blood.

“Thanks!” I shouted into his ear. I gripped his neck tighter, our bodies grinding together. I was looking over Andy’s shoulder, still looking for my moment to show ‘kindness.’ We had been here for hours; I was actually keeping count because I wasn’t drinking.

Most of the people around me were heavily intoxicated, including Andy. Why wasn’t I drinking? I don’t know the answer to that one; when I got there, I just wasn’t feeling it.

I think I was holding Andy up more than we were dancing.  “Andy!” I screamed into his head and he drunkenly nodded. “I’m going to get a drink.”

He sent me a drunken smile before letting go, saying something I didn’t quite understand, but I smiled and nodded; I’m assuming he meant come back soon.

I pushed through the ‘teenagers’; who knew so many people actually attended our school? Dodging a few people, I walked up the staircase. I didn’t need a drink, but I did need a toilet.

I stepped over a guy passed out on the stairs, and then walked past a few couples making out against walls. Seeing the first door, I cracked it open and closed it quickly behind me.

Toilet. Toilet. Toilet. Toilet.

“OH MY GOD!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, and then slapped a hand over my eyes. “OH MY GOD!”

“Shit AMBER! Get OUT!” Cole screamed at me, and I fell backwards, looking for the door handle.

“I’m blind!” I cried. Cole having sex with a girl was permanently burnt in my brain.

“AMBER GET THE HELL OUT!” Cole grunted. OH.MY.GOD. Had he even stopped?

I found the door handle and stumbled out, and slammed it shut. My hand was still covering my eyes. Well it was official; I was ruined.

Pulling the hand from my face, I wondered if I would ever get over this. Didn’t think so. I crossed my legs, thinking it was possible I was about to pee myself. I hesitantly placed a hand on another door knob; please, no naked brothers.

I opened the door with closed eyes, waiting for any shouting but there was nothing; cracking one eye open, I noticed the room was empty.

Sighing with relief, I slammed the door behind me, making a beeline for the ensuite. Thank God whoever owned this house had a bedroom with ensuite.

***

Drying my hands, I pulled the hem of my dress down again. Why did I wear such a short dress again? Oh right, to look drop dead hot.

What was the point again?

Sighing, I walked out of the ensuite and closed the door behind me. My eyes squinted as I struggled to see into the darkness.  

“You look amazing tonight.”

I froze in the middle of the room and slowly turned around to see Jax sitting against the wall across the room, bottles of beers to his side, and one in his hand.

“But I bet you know that,” he added, his voice low.

Why hadn’t I noticed him when I entered the room? Oh right, I was completely in need of a toilet break.

“Thanks,” I said as I moved to sit on the edge of the bed, but then realized I couldn’t sit down without giving him a view. “I think?”

Jax took a long slip on his beer, his eyes studying me through the darkness. I shifted uncomfortably and crossed my arms.

“You can go. I am sure your date is waiting.” He shook his head darkly before chuckling darkly and taking a sip of his beer. “Amber and a high schooler. Funny.”

Narrowing my eyes at him, I knew something was off. Good deed Amber, time for that good deed. Slowly I walked across the room and slid down the wall next to him. Letting my legs lay out in front of me, the dress rising rather high for my liking. Jax looked at me sideways for a moment before drinking again.

“You alright?” I arched an eyebrow and looked at Jax’s profile and he continued to down the contents of the bottle.

“Does it matter?” he placed the empty bottle to his side, along with the others, and picked up a full one from the other side. “You can go.”

“Don’t be hormonal,” I muttered dryly.

Jax sat there with a blank expression. Fine, we could sit in silence, I didn’t care. This could be classed as a good deed, I reckoned.

“You like Andy?” Jax said as he lowered the bottle from his lips, still looking forward. “He’s a crap man. Can’t hold his liquor. Sleeps with anything that walks.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t like Andy,” I said, my voice low. “You don’t have to try and make me think less of him.”

“Then, why did you come?” he said as he glanced at me sideways, “If you didn’t want to sleep with him?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged my shoulders “Mainly to piss you off, I guess.”

Jax and I looked at each other, our eyes level. A grin broke across his face and we both started laughing. I don’t know why I found it funny, but hearing him laugh made me want to laugh.

“I came to keep an eye on you,” Jax said, shaking his head. “In case you needed me. Like you would need me,” he scoffed and rolled his eyes before bringing the bottle to his lips.

I bit my bottom lip. He came for me, I came for him. Funny how things worked out like that.

“I walked in on Cole… with Linda,” I said as I shook my head. “My vision is now stained.”

Jax’s chuckle went deep and his chest rumbled heavily. “That’s just disgusting.”

“I know.” I laughed and shook my head. Jax slightly drunk was softer, it was like his defenses were down.

“So how much have you had to drink?” I glanced at all the bottles to his side; the empty ones. “A lot I am guessing?”

“Yeah, a few too many,” Jax said grinning, and shrugged his shoulders. “But it’s a party.”

“Then why are you up here?”

“Because I couldn’t take seeing that jerk with his hands all over you,” Jax’s voice switched to bitter. “When I thought about snapping his neck, I thought it was best to get out of there.”

“Why did you tell me that?” I asked, my stomach flipping over at his confession. “You could have lied.”

“Didn’t want the truth?”

“Just wasn’t expecting it.” I pulled at the hem of my dress, as I noticed Jax’s eyes drift over it. “Not like you to tell me what you were actually thinking,” I added.

We sat in silence for a few moments. Jax continued to drink, and I just sat there, stealing glances at him every so often.

“I think you have had enough,” I declared. I reached out and took the bottle from his hand, as it hovered around his lips. Leaning over him slightly, my eyes locked with his.

My heart fluttered as our bodies brushed against each others. I placed the bottle to his side, but my body still hovered dangerously close to his.

I should pull myself away from him, I thought.

“How did you get here?” I finally muttered, my voice coming out in a low stutter.

“I don’t remember,” his throat audibly dry, and he swallowed quickly. “Why?”

“I’ll call a cab. We still have time to watch that movie you got me last week. If you’re keen?”

“I’m a bit drunk,” he smirked at me, and then placed his hand on mine, which was gripping the floor. “But yeah why not,” he added.

He pulled his hand away from me and slowly got to his feet. I got up easy, but he was a little slower. Groaning, he placed a hand on the wall.

“Great,” He grunted.

“What?”

“Late fees.” He looked me in the eye. “You still have that movie, which means I will have late fees to deal with,” he explained.

Laughing, I reached out and took his hand. Even the hardest men have a soft side and the more time I spent with Jax, the more I saw it… and the more I fell for him.